S&P Global introduces a new national credit rating scale for Saudi Arabia

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Updated 01 December 2021
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S&P Global introduces a new national credit rating scale for Saudi Arabia

S&P Global Ratings has established a national credit rating scale for Saudi Arabia in response to a growing interest in the Kingdom’s local currency debt markets.

The new assessment scheme will help identify the creditworthiness of local loan takers, and comes as Saudi Arabia pursues policies of economic diversification and private sector strengthening as part of Vision 2030.

The agency said the rating scale will be complementary to the one used globally, with the methodology “generally the same” as the international-focused system.

The highest rating in the Saudi scale is ksaAAA, equivalent to ‘A- and above’ in the global scale, and reflects “extremely strong capacity to meet [...] financial commitments relative to that of other national obligors.”


UAE thwarts terrorist cyberattacks targeting vital sectors

Updated 22 February 2026
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UAE thwarts terrorist cyberattacks targeting vital sectors

DUBAI: The UAE successfully prevented terrorist cyberattacks that targeted the country’s digital infrastructure and vital sectors, in an attempt to destabilize the nation and disrupt essential services, state news agency WAM reported.

The UAE Cybersecurity Council said the attacks included attempts to infiltrate networks, deploy ransomware, and conduct systematic phishing campaigns targeting national platforms.

It also involved the exploitation of artificial intelligence technologies to develop sophisticated offensive tools, reflecting a qualitative shift in the methods employed by terrorist groups and their ability to harness modern technologies to carry out digital attacks, WAM reported.

The Council reiterated the country’s national cybersecurity defense system makes sure that the safety of individuals, the protection of personal data and the continuity of critical services remain top priorities.

It further urged the public to report any cyber threats or suspicious attempts to ensure digital security in the country.